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AT MEETING WITH SHEIKH TAMIM, PM URGES MUSLIM UNITY, CONDEMNS ISRAELI STRIKE ON QATAR Wednesday, 17 September, 2025 | 23 Rabiul Awal, 1447
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PM SHEHBAZ CALLS ATTACK ‘FLAGRANT VIOLATION’ OF SOVEREIGNTY, REITERATES FULL SOLIDARITY WITH DOHA
NOTES DOHA SUMMIT DELIVERED STRONG MESSAGE THAT ISRAEL’S AGGRESSION WOULD NO LONGER BE TOLERATED
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 70 | 8 Pages | Lahore Edition
HOLDS TALKS WITH IRAN’S PRESIDENT, REAFFIRMS RESOLVE TO DEEPEN BILATERAL RELATIONS
BOTH LEADERS EXPRESS CALL FOR UNITY WITHIN THE UMMAH IN CONFRONTING ISRAELI HOSTILITIES
REAFFIRMS PAKISTAN’S FULL SUPPORT, VOWS TO STRENGTHEN PAKISTAN–QATAR ‘HISTORIC RELATIONS’
PM orders urgent flood loss assessment, vows swift rehabilitation ISLAMABAD
staff report
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DOHA/ISLAMABAD staff report
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif has underscored the need for unity within the Muslim Ummah in the face of repeated Israeli provocations. During a meeting with Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha on the sidelines of the Emergency Arab–Islamic Summit, he stressed that Israel’s aggression in the Middle East must be halted immediately. The Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s strongest condemnation of the Israeli strike on a residential area in Doha that claimed precious lives and left several injured. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s full support and solidarity with Qatar at this critical time, terming the attack a blatant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as a grave
breach of international law. PM Shehbaz emphasized that Pakistan and Qatar share historic and enduring fraternal ties, which would further strengthen in the coming days. The Emir of Qatar appreciated the Prime Minister’s participation in the summit and his visit to Doha on September 12 to express solidarity at this difficult moment. Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact amid the unfolding regional situation. Pakistan desires to deepen ties with Iran: PM In a related meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also held talks with Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian in Doha on the sidelines of the summit. Reiterating Pakistan’s strongest condemnation of Israeli aggression against Qatar, both leaders expressed solidarity with Doha and called for unity within the Ummah in confronting Israeli hostilities. The Prime Minister noted that the
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed authorities to prepare a comprehensive and realistic assessment of human and financial losses caused by the recent rains and floods, including damages to crops, livestock, and communication infrastructure. Chairing a review meeting on the flood situation, the premier said a clear rehabilitation strategy could only be framed after completion of the assessment, enabling the government to restore damaged areas and extend meaningful support to the affected population. According to a statement issued from the PM Office Media Wing, the meeting reviewed the loss of lives and properties across the country, as well as initial estimates of damages to crops and livestock. The prime minister instructed all federal and provincial institutions to work in close coordination and extend full cooperation to ensure accuracy and speed in the exercise.
Doha summit had delivered a strong and unified message from the Muslim world that Israel’s aggression would no longer be tolerated. Recalling President Pezeshkian’s recent visit to Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Islamabad’s desire to expand bilateral relations with Tehran across all
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Climate Change Dr Musadik Malik, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema, chief secretaries of all provinces, NDMA Chairman Lt. Gen. Inam Haider Malik, and senior officials of relevant departments. The prime minister noted that provincial governments, particularly the chief ministers, had taken commendable and timely measures in response to the crisis. He emphasized that reports must not only cover human and property losses but also crop and livestock damages, which have direct implications for food security. PM Shehbaz proposed seeking SUPARCO’s technical assistance for satellite-based assessments and called for urgent steps to protect submerged crops from diseases. He also directed officials to promote the cultivation of suitable alternative crops in flood-affected areas.
areas of mutual interest. The Iranian president appreciated Pakistan’s principled stance on Palestine and voiced readiness to work closely with the prime minister to further strengthen ties. Both sides agreed to maintain close contact in view of the rapidly evolving regional situation.
IHC’s Justice Sattar orders removal of PTA chairman over ‘illegal appointment’ ISLAMABAD
staff report
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday declared the appointment of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman retired Major General Hafeezur Rehman as “illegal” and ordered his immediate removal from office. The ruling came in a verdict issued by Justice Babar Sattar on a petition filed in 2023 by digital rights activist Usama Khilji, which challenged the creation of the PTA’s member (administration) post and subsequent appointments. Justice Sattar held that the entire recruitment process “lacked integrity and suffered from mala fide in law,” noting that the selection committee had unlawfully recommended a panel of three names in violation of Rule 4(4) of the PTA Appointment Rules, which permitted only one. He observed that the federal government had then “picked the candidate listed at the bottom of the panel without reasoning or objective basis,” in breach of Section 24A of the General Clauses Act, 1897, which requires decisions to be “just, fair and reasonable.” The verdict further stated that Hafeezur Rehman’s subsequent elevation from member (administration) to PTA chairman was carried out “without any transparent process” and was “illegal, irrational and unsustainable in the eyes of law.” “The entire edifice of processes and decisions built on an illegal foundation must crumble,” Justice Sattar wrote, declaring that all steps taken on the basis of the flawed recruitment process, including Rehman’s appointments as member and chairman, had “no legal effect.” He concluded that since the appointments “suffered from malice in law,” Rehman must “cease to hold such offices and shall immediately relinquish charge.” The court directed that the senior-most PTA member temporarily assume charge as chairman until the federal government makes a lawful appointment.
Imaan moves SJC against IHC CJ after female judge stripped of harassment case powers ISLAMABAD
staff report
Advocate Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir on Tuesday approached the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) against Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar, after the court administration stripped Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz of her authority to entertain harassment complaints soon after she took cognizance of Mazari’s complaint against him. Last week, Justice Dogar had warned Mazari of a contempt of court case and reportedly made remarks along the lines of “getting a hold of her.” His conduct drew condemnation from multiple lawyers’ bodies, which demanded his dismissal as IHC chief justice. Following this, Mazari filed a complaint before the IHC’s workplace harassment committee and submitted a misconduct reference against him before the SJC.
After Justice Imtiaz took up her complaint, the IHC administration de-notified her as the “competent authority” and replaced her with Justice Inaam Ameen Minhas, effectively removing her powers to hear harassment cases. In a post on X, Mazari said she had filed an addendum to her original SJC complaint following this “alarming development.” She alleged Justice Imtiaz was “arbitrarily and with mala fide” removed only hours after she entertained the complaint and formed a three-member inquiry team. The additional complaint, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, claimed that various IHC offices — including the registrar’s office, dispatch branch, and member inspection team — had refused to forward her complaint to the competent authority. Ultimately, she said, Justice Imtiaz’s staff had to directly receive it.
Mazari argued that instead of raising objections through proper procedure, the IHC chief justice used his administrative powers “to influence the inquiry committee” by removing the only female judge willing to hear the case. She described the move as “brazen misconduct” and “an alarming abuse of power.” She further alleged that cases of hers, which had previously not been fixed for hearing, were suddenly placed before Justice Dogar after she filed the complaint. A request for transfer was rejected, she said, while the judge “repeatedly tried to drag the proxy counsel into discussion on the incident of harassment.” Mazari also pointed to “apparent abuse of authority” in a separate cybercrime case lodged against her. She said the Ministry of Interior nominated a special prosecution team days after the harassment incident, and a challan covering incidents from 2021 to
2025 was hastily filed in a trial court, which immediately fixed the matter for hearing on Wednesday. She maintained she had yet to receive formal summons but had been informed through media reports and a voice note from an NCCIA officer. Urging the SJC to take up her complaint, Mazari said unchecked abuse of power by the IHC chief justice directly affected her legal practice and clients. She requested that her addendum be treated as part of her earlier complaint. Licence cancellation reference Separately, a lawyer filed a reference before the Islamabad Bar Council (IBC) seeking the cancellation of Mazari’s practising licence for alleged “anti-state activities” and a “smear campaign against state functionaries.” The reference, filed by Advocate Adnan Iqbal, alleged that Mazari had engaged in “hate speeches against state institutions and law enforcement agencies, negative cam-
paigns against government officials, and instigating rebellion against vital institutions of the state.” Citing “credible sources,” it further accused her of links with banned outfits such as the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), as well as ties with Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement leader Manzoor Pashteen. The plea requested the IBC chairman and disciplinary committee to suspend Mazari’s licence during the inquiry and permanently cancel it under Section 41 of the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act 1973, read with Chapter X of its 1976 rules and the Islamabad Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Rules 2017. “She has been supporting every movement with an agenda of rebellion against the state,” the reference stated, claiming there was “strong persuasive evidence” against her.